Pennsylvania commission lifts Nate Marquardt's suspension

A little more than two weeks after the former UFC contender was pulled from the main event of UFC on Versus 4, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission has lifted Marqaurdt’s suspension.

PSAC Eexecutive director Gregory Sirb today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Marquardt is no longer facing any sanctions from the commission after “passing all medicals and meeting our requirements.”

Marquardt wasn’t immediately available to comment on the matter, though his camp did release a statement to MMAjunkie.com.

“Today Nate Marquardt was taken off suspension by the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission,” the statement from Marquardt’s camp read. “This comes less than three weeks after not being medically cleared to fight at UFC on Versus 4 in Pittsburgh and being placed on suspension. Nate is no longer restricted from fighting in any jurisdiction and is looking forward to competing in mixed martial arts again as soon as possible.”

The PSAC disallowed Marquardt to fight Rick Story when pre-fight blood tests
revealed his testosterone levels to be outside the commission’s
allowable limits. The commission subsequently suspended the onetime UFC
middleweight title challenger, and the UFC fired him shortly thereafter.

Marquardt’s camp declined to comment on their fighter’s next appearance. However they remained optimistic that “The Great” will shine again on a national stage.

“Nate is currently fielding a large number of offers from several MMA
promotions and is excited at the wide range of options he has before
him,” the statement continued. “Nate is still one of the best MMA fighters in the world and will resume
his career in the sport after deciding which venue is right for him. He
felt very comfortable with the drop to welterweight and will most
likely compete in that weight class. Nate would like to thank his
sponsors, family, and friends who supported him through this difficult
time.”

Marquardt fought three times for the UFC while using the hormone, which was prescribed by his personal doctor, including at UFC 128, where he formally applied for a therapeutic-use exemption with the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.

As NJSAC legal counsel Nick Lembo later told MMAjunkie.com, Marquardt went off the therapy following UFC 128 and submitted to extra blood tests to assure he was not gaining a competitive advantage by using testosterone. However, when the final blood test he was required to take came back with hormone levels outside the commission’s allowable limits – Marquardt later admitted to going back to his personal doctor to resume treatment as opposed to a NJSAC-approved endocrinologist – the commission denied his exemption and forwarded documentation of his case to the PSAC.

The denial came just one day prior to the weigh-ins for UFC on Versus 4, which took place June 26 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. Representatives for Marquardt said the fighter submitted multiple blood tests the week of the event and that his testosterone levels were trending down – to the point where he would have been within the acceptable limits on fight day.

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